Electrical accessory charging compartment for a cabinet and retrofit components therefor

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-07-10
WHIRLPOOL CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention provides a compartment with a plurality of connectors for consumer electronic devices and similar electrical accessories, to provide operating and/or recharging power to the consumer electronic devices and to transmit data to and from the consumer electronic devices. This compartment, which may stand alone, or be

Problems solved by technology

The availability of spare electrically outlets in a room, such as the kitchen, may be quite limited, requiring users to alternate the use or recharging of their various electronic devices.
Also, the number and variety of these devices used or stored, even temporarily, in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other rooms, causes a loss of counter space, clutter, loss or mislocation of adaptors, shortage of available outlets, as well as p

Method used

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  • Electrical accessory charging compartment for a cabinet and retrofit components therefor
  • Electrical accessory charging compartment for a cabinet and retrofit components therefor
  • Electrical accessory charging compartment for a cabinet and retrofit components therefor

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0040]The present invention, in an embodiment, provides an appliance or cabinet with a compartment such as drawer having a plurality of connectors for consumer electronic devices, to provide power to operate or recharge the consumer electronic devices and to transmit data to and from the consumer electronic devices. The compartment and its enclosure, may comprise the appliance itself, or the compartment may be located in an appliance that provides other functions. Specific embodiments of drawer and electrical connector systems containing these features, as well as some additional features are described below. Other examples of portions of such systems or related systems are described in the following related applications filed contemporaneously herewith: U.S. Patent Application entitled “A System for Supplying Service from an Appliance to Multiple Consumer Electronic Devices”, bearing applicant's docket number US20060570; U.S. Patent Application entitled “A System for Connecting Dis...

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PUM

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Abstract

An electrical accessory charging compartment, an interface device and a retrofit for creating a charging compartment and a cabinet with an lectrical accessory charging compartment on its exterior. A plurality of electrical connections is located in the charging compartment for supplying electricity to a plurality of consumer electronic devices simultaneously. A plurality of data connections is located in the charging compartment for transmitting data to and from the plurality of consumer electronic devices simultaneously. The interface device for a plurality of consumer electronic devices is provided with a connector member having a plurality of outlets arranged to supply electrical power and provide data connections to a plurality of consumer electronic devices, and a data connector arranged to be connected to a data network.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]In a home setting, where many different appliances are often located, people are using, and recharging, various consumer electronic devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, MP3 and other digital music players, CD players, DVD players, portable radios, palm computers, hand held electronic game consoles, web tablets, etc. Typically each of these devices requires its own specialized power supply for recharging or electrically powering the device during use. The availability of spare electrically outlets in a room, such as the kitchen, may be quite limited, requiring users to alternate the use or recharging of their various electronic devices. Also, the number and variety of these devices used or stored, even temporarily, in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other rooms, causes a loss of counter space, clutter, loss or mislocation of adaptors, shortage of available outlets, as well as possible damages to the electronic devices in environments which include h...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H02J4/00
CPCF24C15/00H02J7/0027F25D2400/40F25D23/12H02J7/0044H02J7/0013H02J2310/22
Inventor MCCOY, RICHARD A.VISWANATHAN, AMERESH B.HORST, GALE R.KNIGHT, JOHN M.
Owner WHIRLPOOL CORP
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